Howard puts it on his shoulders

LOS ANGELES All over the court, the game got easier for the Lakers on Sunday.

They have Dwight Howard to thank for it.

The Lakers' demoralizing six-game losing streak ended with a 113-93 never-trail victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Howard returned from a three-game injury absence — cleared by the team doctor just an hour before the game — and sparked the Lakers with better bounce in his step than he has shown in many games this season.

Howard finished with 22 points on 9-of-11 field-goal shooting and 14 rebounds in 30 minutes. The Cavaliers shrunk from his defensive presence in the paint, and the Lakers' offense opened up with Cleveland collapsing multiple defenders inside every time Howard rolled through the paint.

Steve Nash said after the victory he termed “mandatory” that Howard was and is the key: “When he plays with energy and plays hard defensively, we're a different team. And the only way for us to realize our aspirations is if he is that presence defensively.”

It's not the first time this season Nash has asked for more from Howard.

But just as he predicted Tuesday as panic set in that he might be seriously injured, Howard came back quickly from the injury the Lakers termed a torn labrum in his right shoulder. It was perfect timing to back up Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's demand from the players after last game that the season starts anew with this game.

“It's a baby step,” D'Antoni said, “but it's a step.”

Kobe Bryant had talked a big game about improving the defense as soon as that loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night went final, and he backed it up by hounding Cavaliers star point guard Kyrie Irving with first, second and third efforts. Howard reported no pain in his shoulder after the game. He said the labrum remains torn from the bone in his shoulder, but the time off allowed him to “regain some strength” in the shoulder.

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